How much and how often to feed your cat

Once you have talked to your veterinarian and chosen the right Science Diet™ cat food, you're on the right track to giving your kitten the healthiest life possible.

It's important to feed your kitten the right amount of Science Diet™ cat food at proper intervals, but that can be tricky, as feeding requirements vary greatly from one kitten to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your kitten's health that her physical condition is monitored regularly and the feeding amount is adjusted as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your kitten:

Free Choice: Food is available to your kitten at all times. Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your kitten for a limited time. Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your kitten at specific meal times each day.

To help your kitten grow up healthy, we recommend following the simple steps in this cycle:

Weigh your kitten.

Feed her based on feeding guides and veterinary recommendations.

Evaluate your kitten's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months.

Adjust the amount you feed accordingly.

Repeat.

After the first six months, we suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your kitten's physical condition every few months. For some kittens, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.